Making Defense R&D Open and Innovative

Abstract

Disruptive and open innovations in defense have been rapidly diffused among advanced countries as competition between them to secure cutting edge defense technologies has been intensified. However, based on fast-follower model, R&D system in defense in South Korea has long been prioritizing procurement over innovation. This paper proposes the transformation of defense R&D system from fast-follower model to first-mover model. We suggest four major directions of making defense R&D system open and innovative. First, R&D expenditure in defense should be radically increased. Second, GRIs, private research centers, and universities should be invited to co-design high-risk high-payoff defense R&D projects with speedy, innovative and bottom-up approaches. Third, Civil-military partnership in defense R&D should be strengthened by introducing open innovation and information sharing system. Finally, Diverse research institutes should be encouraged to participate in defense R&D; GRIs should be allowed to participate in specific areas of defense R&D, private companies in defense industry should be encouraged to have bigger R&D capacity, private companies with cutting edge technologies should be encouraged to join in defense R&D.